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Americans Warned Not To Travel To Mexico

Last Updated:
04-14-06 at 1:14PM

Avoid travel to Baja California Norte. That's the warning from the Baja Safari Mexico Club Thursday. The recent surge in kidnappings prompted the travel warning, which is in effect through spring.

The Baja Safari Mexico Club's president is telling its members that they should avoid Baja California Norte. The club says it's just too dangerous to travel there in light of the recent kidnappings, which they say are happening at an alarming rate.

Some kidnapping cases include tourists being kidnapped in Tijuana and taken to an ATM where they are forced to withdraw money and give it to the kidnapper, before they are released. Other kidnapping cases go on for days with the suspects demanding thousands of dollars.

In fact, kidnappings have become so common in Baja California Norte, that now the kidnappers are starting to cross the border and kidnap people in San Diego and take them back to Mexico.

The Baja Safari Mexico Club is now hoping that the Mexican authorities will crack down on this growing crime.

"It's very serious and primarily because we don't have anybody out front taking charge and handling this. And, this is the reason why we're advising citizens, who are crossing into Mexico, be advised that they should be careful about their travel if they are going to go," said Mike Overcast with the Baja Safari Mexico Club.

The Baja Safari Mexico Club stresses that this warning only extends to Baja California Norte. They say that the southern part of Baja is very safe, and advise travelers to go ahead with their trips to that area.

The Baja Safari Mexico Club has about 10,000 members